Copy-holder



75 1 V I '1' i E. W. ROTHFUS. COPY HOLDER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 12.1920.

Patented Sept. 13,1921.

@441 ATTORNEY typewriters, and embodying a vertically UNITED suresPATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD WP BOTHFUS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ERROR-NO, INCL,OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COPY-HOLDER.

Application filed July 12,

To all w from it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD W. Ro'rHrUs, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCopyllolders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to copyholders of the type generally used inconnection with movable copy support adapted to be elevated by theoperator to bring successive lines of writing into view, and the purposeof the improvementis to provide a device for effectively cushioning thefall of the copy supportwhen the latter is released andv drops to itslowermost position.

In most structures of this class, the copy support is arranged to fallby gravity to its bottom position when released, and various mechanismshave been utilized for balancing the copy support, in order to preventshock and jar, but even with such devices, it is impossible to entirelyabsorb theshock, particularly where the cushioning means involves anadjustment for different sizes and weights of copyholders. In suchdesigns, it not infrequently happens that the assembler does not makethe proper adjustment for the particular size model, and it is theprovince of the present invention to take care of any such error inassembling, and to supplement the principal cushioning means,byproviding a shock absorbing device that will counteract any inaccuracyin the adjustment of the principal cushioning means, and absorb theslight shock or jar that would otherwise result.

A further object of my invention is to afford an efficient, but simpleand inexpensive means, which can be cheaply manufactured and assembled,thus making it entirely practical for manufacturing purposes.

The invention includes certain other objects and advantages that willappear clearly from the following description, in conjunction with theaccompanyin drawing, the features of novelty being pointed out in theclaims at the end of the specification.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a well known form of 'copyholder,showing the application of the invention thereto;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

*ig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the shock absorbing means, removed fromthe copyholder.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing, designates thebase ofa stationary frame, which also includes vertical 'guide-rods B, while Cis a vertically mov- Patented Sept. 13, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 395,683.

sition illustrated in Fig. 1. Since the mechanism just referred to itwell known in the copyholder art, and does not form a novel part ofmyinvention, it is unnecessary to make more than brief reference to it,for a proper understanding of the function of the construction now to bedescribed.

The shock absorbing means comprises a resilient tubular member E,preferably made of rubber or other compressible material, and within.the tubular member E is a metallic spiral spring F, the lower end ofwhich preferably projects beyond the resilient tube E, as shown in Fig.2. The shock absorbing means is located at the upper end of the copysupporting member and arranged to engage the upper end of the stationaryframe, and in the present embodiment, this is accomplished by locatingeach resilient tubular member E and spring F immediately over aguide-rod B.

One method of carrying out this result consists of positioning theresilient tube E partially within the upper end of the tubular extensionD of the copy support, said tubular extension being bent in sufficientlyat its upper extremity to grip the tubular member E, as shown in Fig. 2.The parts are also arranged so that the spring F contacts at its upperend and is held against upward movement by a flange G, which is formedupon and extends transversely at the top of the copy support C.

Thus the resilient tubular member E and spring F are superposed abovethe guide rod B, and cooperate with said guide-rod to cushion the fallof the copy support when it reaches its lowermost position. By arrangingthe spring with its lower end extending beyond the resilient tube E, thespring and tube successively engage the guide-rod, the spring beingfirst compressed and thereafter the tube. This produces initial andfinal cushioning actions of increasing resistance the spring serving toslow down the travel of the copy support, and the resilient tubularmember to act as a final cushioning stop which also prevents rebound.The tubular member E acts in the capacity of both a housing and also asupport or guide for the side walls of the coil spring, which is therebyretained against improper bending or twisting upon compression.

The particular construct-ion shown may be modified, and this applicationis intended to cover any departures that may come within the spirit ofthe invention, and the scope of the following claims.

I claim: 7

1. In a copyholder, the combination with a stationary frame and avertically movable support, of shock absorbing means acting to cushionthe fall of the movable support upon the stationary frame, said shockabsorbing means comprising a resilient tube and a spiral spring locatedwithin the tube, with one end of the spring extending beyond the tubewhereby the spring and tube are successively compressed.

2. In a copyholder, the combination with a stationary frame and avertically movable support, of shock absorbing means acting to cushionthe fall of the movable support upon the stationary frame, said shockabsorbing means comprising a resilient tube carried by the verticallymovable support and arranged to engage the stationary frame,

and a spiral spring located within the tub with the lower end of thespring extending beyond the tube whereby the spring and tubesuccessively engage the frame and are successively compressed.

8. In a copyholder, the combination with a stationary frame comprisingvertical guide-rods, and a support movable vertically on saidguide-rods, of shock absorbing means acting to cushion the fall of thesupport on the guide-rods, said shock absorbing means comprising aresilient tube carried by the support at its upper end and arranged toengage the top of one of said guide-rods, and a spiral spring locatedwithin the tube with the lower end of the spring extending beyond thetube whereby the spring and tube successively engage the top of theguide-rod and are successively compressed.

4. In a copyholder, the combination with a stationary frame comprisingvertical guide-rods, and a support having tubular extensions engagingsaid guide-rods and movable vertically thereon, of shock absorbing meansacting to cushion the fall of the support on the guide-rods, said shockal sorbing means comprising a resilient tube clamped within one of saidtubular extensions at its upper end and arranged to engage the top ofone of said guide-rods, and a spiral spring located within the tube withthe lower end of the spring extending beyond the tube whereby the springand tube successively engage the top of the guiderod and aresuccessively compressed.

5. In a copyholder the combination with a stationary frame and avertically movable support, of shock absorbing means acting to cushionthe fall of the movable support upon the stationary frame, said shockabsorbing means comprising a resilient body and a spiral springpositioned with reference to the resilient body so that the spring andbody are successively compressed.

In witness whereof I hereunto sign my name.

EDWARD W. ROTHFUS.

